PRINCETON: Man charged in store prostitution case admitted to program

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
   A former University Store employee who allegedly had sex with a prostitute in the store will avoid having a criminal record if he successfully completes a program for low-level offenders.
   Eric Everett, 23, was admitted to the pre-trial intervention program Jan. 9 after having pleaded not guilty to theft, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said. Mr. Everett must undergo 12 months of supervision, complete 40 hours of community service and make $700 in restitution, said Casey A. DeBlasio, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor’s Office.
   His lawyer, Eric M. Underriner, on Friday directed all questions about the case to the Mercer County Public Defender’s Office, where he previously worked.
   Mr. Everett, a Chesterfield resident, allegedly paid for sex with Brittany L. Smith, a then-20-year-old Brookdale Community College student whom he had met on the website Craigslist, a classified advertising site that has a chat room. Princeton police had claimed the three trysts they are aware of occurred in the store, located on University Place, where he was a night manager.
   There were also allegations the two were stealing food items. He was fired Sept. 21, store management has said.
   Arrested Sept.24, he was charged with theft, shoplifting and engaging in prostitution.
   As for Ms. Smith, her criminal case has not been resolved. The Keyport woman, now 21, remains charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, shoplifting, promoting prostitution and possession of drug paraphernalia, the prosecutor’s office said.
   She has a court date Feb.27, Ms. DeBlasio said.